Last Minute Questions:
Once our season starts (January) it's best to call - 1 250 355 2269 (we leave cyberspace, when in the mountains), but do have radio phone communication.
We may be up at the lodge for 2 consecuitive weeks at a time and may not respond to emails for that duration.

Quick link to the Waiver and Fine Print

Quick link to Helicopter Logistics

Kaslo Amenities
All shops are open Saturdays until 17:30 and are located on Front Street.
Groceries: Big Way Supermarket and Cornucopia.
Health food stores: Sunnyside Naturals.
BC Liquor Store.
Home Hardware for Misc. hardware supplies.
Restaurants: Tree House, Rose wood Cafe, Blue Bell Bistro and a minute N from town is the Beachcombers Restaurant and Pub.
For last minute mountain gear visit Roam shop in Nelson.

Pre and Post trip Accommodation Options: (reservations highly recommended)
In Kaslo:
New Kaslo Hotel open as of March 1, 2009
On the Cliff B and B: 5 min south of Kaslo, 250-353-7647
Kaslo Motel: Downtown Kaslo close to center of town. 250 353 2431
Kaslo Backpacker Hostel: 250 353 2551
Ainsworth Hotspring Resort: 15 min. south of Kaslo 250 229 4212
New Denver:
Sweet Dreams Guest House: Tel. 250 358 2415
Valhalla Inn: Tel. 250 358 2228

¤ At The Lodge We Provide:
Bedding: We supply all bedding.
For Cooking: A four burner propane stove top and oven and an out-side barbeque.
An excellent selection of pots, pans, baking dishes and all nescessary utensils and a mixer.
Food storage: outside freezer storage cupboard, 2 inside cool storage cupboards for non-frozen goods.
We also supply: All toilet paper and biodegradable soaps for dishes, general hygiene, shampoo etc.
Please do not bring any other soaps, shampoo etc.
There are ample tools for any necessary equipment repairs.
Tunes: There is a CD player and also a speaker system (bring spare double A bats) to acommodate your ipods and mp3 players, if they have a female ear phone plug. Bring your recharging cable.

YOU SHOULD ALWAYS BRING:
Hut shoes-snow boots (booties work fine)
Towel for the sauna.
Fully charged and also spare batteries for your transceivers, radios, cameras and headlamps.
Recharging your batteries for cameras, uhf radios etc.: We have a generator which we will run as necessary in the evenings.
Bring a quick charger for batteries if possible.

Self Catered groups need to bring #6 coffee filters (we have an electric coffee grinder at the lodge) and tea towels.
If you like to use paper towels, please bring your own.

Sorry "Dogs Are Not Allowed" except for human powder hounds. Guests have/may be hyper-allergic to dog hair.

EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT AT THE LODGE AVAILABLE TO SELF-GUIDED GROUPS:
A light portable cascade rescue toboggan, spine board, leg splints, oxygen, white gas stove and pots, emrgency tent, a rescue pack which includes: a tarp, a sleeping bag, 2 blankets, cervical colar and 50-meter rope. There is a rescue plan with the important Phone #. You and your group are responsible for any other first aid gear needed. We recommend that you all carry a small first aid kit, while you are skiing.

COMMUNICATION:
We have radio communication at the guides/custodian cabin. If you are up at the lodge and there is an emergency at home, have people call the office @ 250 353 7179, we check our messages daily.
SELF GUIDED GROUPS: We will supply the group organizer with a VHF radio that can be used in the field for emergencies, but, General VHF Radio communication in the field has its limitations. We recommend you bring a hand-held satellite phone.
(The Iridium satellite phone is most reliable at present)

AVERAGE DRIVING TIMES to the KMH HELICOPTER STAGING/MEETING SPOT:
Kaslo 5 min. - Nelson 1 hrs. - Castlegar 1.5 hrs. - New Denver 1 hr. - Vernon 3 hrs. - Revelstoke 3 hrs. Spokane 4.5 hrs.
Note: if you are flying back home from Spokane we recommend you book a flight for the Monday unless there is a flight after 18:00 on Sunday. We do have a good ski out option which can be done under most conditions and takes an average of 3 hours, and is a viable option if you need to catch a plane on Sunday PM or Monday.

Helicopter Staeging Area: Kaslo, North end of Airport.
¤ Meeting Time: SUNDAY 9:00 AM
Please contact us if you will not be arriving to the helicopter staging area on time.

Directions on how to get to the helicopter staging area:
If you are coming from Nelson, drive 1 km past the Esso Gas Station, which is on your right, then turn left onto Balfour Ave. If you are coming from Kaslo, drive towards Nelson, at the crest of the first large hill, turn right onto Balfour Ave. towards the airport.
After turning on to Balfour Ave. stay on this main road without turning left or right for 3 km. You will be driving past a few airplane hangers on your left after a small hill.
The KMH helicopter staging location is at the very end of the airstrip on the left. Once you arrive, you will meet a KMH representative who will start organizing things for the helicopter flights in.

Helicopter type: Bell 206, Long Ranger. Company: Highland Helicopters Ltd.

KMH STANDARD HELICOPTER FLIGHTS are: from Kaslo Airport. A total of 3 passenger flights and 1 sling load of
gear to the Lodge.
Flight Plan: first 2 flights are passenger flights 3rd flight is the sling load, 4th flight is passengers.

VERY IMPORTANT: To ensure safe helicopter travel, flight weights are set at a maximum allowable.

ALLOWABLE GEAR WEIGHT per person including SKIS:

Lodge Rental-Self-Catered Groups: 90 lbs. per person

KMH Catered groups: 65 lbs. per person

Gear means: Skis, day packs, all packed clothes, all food, liquor and anything else you will be bringing.

PLEASE NOTE: If you are organizing a group, confirm with your group members if they want to pack to limit themselves to the allowable gear weight, or if they want to bring in more and make an extra flight. The cost for an extra flight is $500.-.
If your group does not want to make an extra flight then each individual needs to weigh out all their gear prior to arrival to make sure they are not over the allowable. A bathroom scale works fine for this.

Please let us know if your group is opting to make an extra gear flight or, ensuring they will not be/are over the allowable by weighing out all gear.

Always Bring Extra Cash (50.-$per person) To Cover A Possible Extra Flight, since once you arrive at the helicopter staging area we will weigh all the gear and it definitely needs to be within a few pounds of the allowable weight's as stated above.

PACKING: Food and fluids should be packed in small cardboard boxes and taped closed. (you can find these usually at liquor stores)

Your day pack is an important part of your flight in since you need to have it on board with you, do not load your daypack with anything else other than what you would take as for a day of backcountry skiing/boarding.

All extra clothes and misc. should be packed in A Large Backpack. Duffel Bags are not recommended since you will have to carry them if you need to ski/board out!

It is important to be all packed prior to arrival for the flight in. Dress as for a day of skiing, you will need to wear your ski boots on your flight in.

Skis should be strapped or taped together. No ski bags please. Your skis and poles will be part of your passenger flight. Splitboards are fine in one piece.

A sling load for all other gear will be prepared once you arrive. The KMH personnel will deal with all the helicopter logistics, loading and unloading. You will be given a helicopter safety briefing once all the gear is organized and then its time to fly!

Once you arrive at the lodge we will give you a lodge orientation, waivers to sign and an update on snow stability etc.